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2041

General Discussion / Re: Gamefaqs + eternal stupidity

« on: July 19, 2008, 03:16:28 PM »

I'll bide my time first. I need to educate myself with the algo first.

If you abuse the useless Genji Glove+Offering+dual Tempest+Quick, on average, 8 Wind Slashes would occur max, which is worse than the 5 Ultimas if you do a Gem Box+Quick abuse (Quin-Ultima) attack.

Wind Slash doesn't ignore magic defense.. the initial power is 48, though I don't think it is affected by the multitarget power reduction modifier (of 1/2)
Ultima ignores magic defense,  initial power is 150, and is always affected by the multitarget power reduction modifier.

Even if the monster had 0 magic defense, the spell power of Wind Slash is still weaker than a split Ultima of 75, Wind Slash being 48/75 = 64% weaker on same magic power and level. This gets worse over time based on obvious math.

In sum, Wind Slash on average is never going to be as powerful as Ultima, but I could bother to take a look at optimal level+magic power conditions for Wind Slash... but that would require a lot of work to even remotely match Ultima (I'd have to check how much it would take to even make them a fair comparison).

I mean, the magic defense algo is primarily magic defense/255 and once that is reached, Wind Slash is virtually irrelevent. That doesn't even factor in the elemental property, although Ultima is Runicable... I'd hazard to say that there are more enemies resistant to that elemental than the enemies that have the Runic ability.

It doesn't help if Wind Slash is used 8x if magic defense = 254 in the first place.

Edit: To expand on a related idea..

Quin-Ultima is 5x75 (assuming always split) = 375 (before multiplying level and magic power)
Hex-Tempest is 16x48 (since split is not applied) = 768 (before multiplier level and magic power)

So, if all goes perfectly, Hex-Tempest is better, BUT requires so much luck to cause, ebmid is delusional.

So, these things hurt Tempest's potential, in the order of things are likely to occur:
1) 16 (8 on average) Wind Slashes needs a prayer to occur
2) The chances of Ultima killing one or more of its targets to eventually remove the Split damage modifier, which starts to favor Ultima more
3) Enemy Magic Defense > 0, Ultima cuts through any magic defense like butter

Things that can't be compared against, because of the number of monsters that expose it, but still notable:
1) Runic vs Ultima - too few enemies expose this, and you can control your own Runic command too
2) Wind elemental - you can work around it somewhat (requires Tools -> Debilitator which has a 1 of 8 chance of doing what you want it to do, but is single targeted and won't work against monsters that rotate elemental weakness)

Let's not forget you could do better with Cyan than giving him very little evade or magic evade to survive. The fucking Retainer would rape Cyan on Tradeoff.

What hasn't really been considered...

The number of attacks an Oct-Tempest (using average here) deals is far more than Quin-Ultima, but requires some consideration. Quin-Ultima has the early edge by design because of the magic defense and high magic power (150 is a lot after all). Ultima plateaus pretty quickly, and Wind Slash/Tempest requires a lot of level ups and Magic Power boosts (which is terrible for the low level game player).

Note: I'm more of a Merton/Meltdown guy, since that provides far more benefits for me than Ultima or Tempest/Wind Slash under most instances.

2042

Final Fantasy IV Research & Development / Zeromus and Bio+Big Bang

« on: July 18, 2008, 05:59:26 PM »

This is more of a query than an imformative post..

IIRC, when Zeromus uses Big Bang, it comes with a Spell Multiplier of 10, so technically it can't be evaded, but is there something coded to the spell or caster that makes it work 100% of the time? (The minimum spell multiplier success is always at 1.)

The same goes for Bio/Virus, since I don't recall it ever being evaded, even when the Spell Multiplier for that is somewhere like 8 or so (but always split), but should normally be evadable...

Edit: I may have overlooked the obviousness of the spell, but the only connection between the two spells is HP leak, which "could" be the the culprit.

Bio can be normally be evaded (used by the Ghost Knight/IceSoldier) and I'll have to double check if that's evadable by the FF4ET Eurkaryote/Prokaryote...

2nd Edit: There's also the fact that HP Leak is inflicted when Mind Blast (the Mage/Mind Flayer or Breath monster) is used...

2043

General Discussion / Re: Gamefaqs + eternal stupidity

« on: July 18, 2008, 04:46:37 PM »

granted, the topic of discussion is off of ebmid, but i was reading xkcd and this comic just applies to a good portion of what he says:

http://xkcd.com/169/

Where do I sign up for cutting the other guy's hand off?

Everyone clap for Embid.
http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=930370&topic=44344218

I don't know if he can equip it in the GBA version of the game. But he can still equip it in the SNES and PSX versions of the game. I think that in the GBA version of the game, Gau can't equip the Merit Award anymore. But does the Equip Any Weapon bug work in the GBA version? And even if it doesn't, is there any other way to have Gau equip the Kazekiri in the GBA version? I suppose you could always use codes or hacking or something like that.

It's official: I have lost all faith in humanity.
Oh, and look, even Vegh points it out to him that the damn glitch doesn't work anymore.

IIRC, the PSX version removed the Merit Award option for Gau... in the GBA version, on top of that, Gogo can't equip the Merit Award either (or was it the other way around?). There are many reasons (overpowered for one) that this option is prevented. That shouldn't surprise anyone anyways, the weapon was intended to suck the way it is.

2044

Final Fantasy IV Research & Development / Re: Ambidextrous characters and shields

« on: July 17, 2008, 09:06:12 PM »

I'm not sure we're on the same wavelength... I think I know what you're saying, but I think there's some tangent you're going on...

The "weapon" options for a recessive hand will always be a shield or bow or arrow (where shields cannot be combined with a bow and arrow).

I'm talking about when you equip either a bow or arrow in either hand, you expose the "fists" attack power property (1 attack power, 50% hit rate).

Although, if you are thinking of revamping Bows+Arrows to an FF5 style type of thing, that would be interesting, but you should enforce 2-handedness.. though I wonder how that'll work out... because those weapons generally require dominant hands... I'm not sure if there are additional checks with those weapons to begin with..

The only thing worth noting that JCE's hack allowed for Bows+Arrows for all and IIRC that Bows+Arrows did not get penalized when equipped either way.. Yang's attack power is fixed, so that allows for some weapon properties to prosper (race/elemental/status modifers) regardless of power.

2045

Final Fantasy IV Research & Development / Re: Ambidextrous characters and shields

« on: July 17, 2008, 10:19:12 AM »

A very interesting idea you have there. Have you done any testing with the double recessive ambidextrous? I haven't, I don't know if that character would be able to equip a bow and arrow or not, all I know is that they can equip shields. To fully make use of the idea you'd have to expand the amount of bows and arrows (Unless you wanted to sacrifice a good number of them). Because of the way bow and arrow animations work there would be no way of telling them from a normal katana, except I don't think you'd get a hit from each weapon - another thing I haven't tested in detail but probably should.

I've done neither. You would have to test for yourself. My guess is that the Bow+Arrow checks either the dominant or recessive hand to calculate the attack power reduction when it is applicable. Since both are recessive, the reduction is a given (opposite of a both dominant hand option). I was talking more of the empty other hand option (configuring the fist with either bow or arrow option), though this means you want to rid of all other bow+arrow options (and limit it to just one) because you would abuse that property.

2046

Final Fantasy IV Research & Development / Re: Ambidextrous characters and shields

« on: July 17, 2008, 12:32:48 AM »

I'm not surprised by this... though this probably benefits Yang the most IMO.

Edit: As an aside, you could manipulate the ambidextrous non-dominant hands for Edge and make a solo Bow/Arrow or Shield as a tradeoff option (power vs defense).

2047

General Discussion / Re: "11..."

« on: July 16, 2008, 03:05:21 PM »

You need to display or rotate all of the previous pictures you are doing with this theme. They look pretty damn cool.

2048

General Discussion / Re: Gamefaqs + eternal stupidity

« on: July 13, 2008, 02:27:51 PM »

There's this annoying guy in the FF4A boards (VeghEsther) that sounds like a complete idiot when it comes to this game. He requires that Cecil is at level 40 once he's converted to a Paladin, only so that Rydia learns all her level 3 elemental spells by the time you get her back (or was it by the time you needed it for say Leviathan). The guy has never found Summoner harvesting apparently...

That FF4a board is still alive? It was pretty much dead when I stopped posting there. As for VeghEsther, it's not human.

It's half breathing, for the people have roamed elsewhere (which is good), though that didn't drag VeghEsther there too (which is bad). I could swear it is a mutation.

The sad part is regardless how much proof is shown to this moron, the guy simply doesn't know when to stop repeating nonsense.

2049

General Discussion / Re: Gamefaqs + eternal stupidity

« on: July 12, 2008, 06:46:52 AM »

I'm going to add random comments here...

1: In FF6 Advance, what is the name of Cyan's weapon that has Wind Slash as a random added effect?
Kazekiri.

Why feed ebmid's ego?

3: What does Cid request Celes call him on the Solitary Island?
Grandpa.

So Celes has an answer to who's your daddy?

4: Is it possible to dual wield the Ragnarok and Lightbringer?
Yes, if you steal another Ragnarok in the final battle.

Well, it's assumed you took the original one and traded that in. It allows the Ragnarok Esper decision to be easier (which I like, but leads to overpowered Merit Award+Genji Glove possibilities).

5: How many enemies share the name "Magna Roader"?
Six?

I don't think FF6A added more, so the answer is 4. Two sets... one purple+red on the cart ride and a big+small brown version in the Narshe Caves.

6: Who leads the Returners?
 

Even if he was nakedly equipped, apparently the knowledge of Kung Fu and maybe some Yoga has keep him alive this long...

7: What is the name of the chamber in the Dragon's Den with the three switches that must be pressed to reach the room with Kaiser Dragon (or Omega Weapon)?
I haven't a clue.

Who cares? The Kaiser Dragon/Omega weapon is lame with Quick abuse.

8: What is the nearest town to the optional boss, Gigantaur?
Jidoor?

Miranda... it's always Miranda when it comes to Cactuars.

9: Can Celes use Runic if she has the Ichigeki equipped?
I'll go with no, I've never bothered equipping katanas on her.

I think the answer is yes. (Just cheated and checked, the answer is yes.) A lot of Shadow's dirks are Runic compatible, as useless as that info is.

10: Which Dragon lives in the Cultists' Tower?
White Dragon.

Why not the Black Dragon? That monster is purely a waste of my time.

EXTRA CREDIT: Can the Ultima Buster be killed by being reduced to zero MP?
I think so.

Who cares? His Ultima is inferior.

There are two interactions with a stove in the game (as in: yields a result). Name both.
Gau's father's house and the Imperial camp at the cave to the sealed gate.

As Gau said one time in the bar in Vector "This smells like father?"

At some point, there’s a way to trigger the ‘Imperial March’ music while you’re in the Returner’s Hideout. How?
Step on a tile in the corner of the room where the wounded Returner is sleeping.

That music sucks.

In the Collapsing House in Tzen, you die when you’re inside the house and the timer runs out. What happens if you’re OUTSIDE of the house while the timer reaches 0:00? To be able to pull this off, you just run out of the house while the boy is still inside.
No idea, maybe nothing?

You see something a little different, where Sabin says something like "can't hold it any more" and noises of the house blowing up..

There’s a FF VI community reference in the Advance game. Which one?
Ha, there are two, one for the casual players and one for the hackers:

1. A Figaro sentry pokes fun at Sky Render's retranslation and its insistence on spelling Kefka's name "Cefca."

I loved that, since literal people don't understand phoentic spelling.

Think of a way to produce a damage-dealing physical attack unaffected by Valor while that character should actually get the boost.

I know this was some documented bug. It probably involves a command or something.

There’s one character who behaves differently when countering with a Black Belt. Which one and how?
I'm thinking it's probably Gogo, but I don't know for sure.

Maybe it's Umaro? Otherwise I'm thinking of Psycho Cyan.

Status ailments affect Evasion, and I’m not just talking about Image. Name the status ailments that boost Evasion.
Vanish? Only one I can think of.

IIRC, Haste and Slow had other original secondary effects to them (documented somewhere I think)... Haste was supposed to increase Evasion, but reduce hit rate, and Slow was vice versa... (maybe not).

There's this annoying guy in the FF4A boards (VeghEsther) that sounds like a complete idiot when it comes to this game. He requires that Cecil is at level 40 once he's converted to a Paladin, only so that Rydia learns all her level 3 elemental spells by the time you get her back (or was it by the time you needed it for say Leviathan). The guy has never found Summoner harvesting apparently...

2050

Game Modification Station / Re: (Generic) Bloopers!

« on: July 09, 2008, 07:48:19 AM »

Is the misspelling of "failed" intentional? 

Anyways, I remember one important thing about fonts... RPGe's font for FF5 was awful when it came to the rendering the end game stuff. I think their previous patch was better at it (I think the difference between fonts was some font shadowing or whatever).

Oh well.. it is just a random thought that came to mind.

2051

Dbi News / Re: Final Fantasy II *is* Easy Type

« on: July 06, 2008, 04:41:41 PM »

There's a couple of other pics that would've been appropriate, like the Eukaryote and Prokaryote casting Bio...

Wyvern/Dark Bahamut casting Poison/Venom.

Tricker casting Fire3/Firaga.

There's a few other obvious ones, but meh.

2052

Game Modification Station / Re: (Generic) Bloopers!

« on: July 06, 2008, 04:22:57 PM »

"The better to see you my dear" - said the big bad Paladin to little blue ZeromusEG blob.

2053

General Discussion / Re: Gamefaqs + eternal stupidity

« on: July 03, 2008, 07:50:31 PM »

Well, there's some validity to that theory though.

FF5 is understandable given the prior NES FF's with class changing... (FF2 or FF3 NES introduced something along those lines).

I think they assumed it wasn't going to be embraced.. which in some way, that could be true...

2054

General Discussion / Re: Gamefaqs + eternal stupidity

« on: July 03, 2008, 03:39:16 PM »

There's a good chance that there is a little of both involved here...

It could simply be that this is the result of the XBOX generation... those who have little or no perspective of what the games of the olden days were like.... and having trouble starting FF3US.

2055

General Discussion / Re: Gamefaqs + eternal stupidity

« on: July 03, 2008, 03:11:24 PM »

FF2us still came out first. Mystic Quest came out after FF5 was out in Japan - and contrary to popular opinion it had nothing to do with us not getting FF5, you can blame FF6 for that.

Well, look at it this way, it could be worse. If the translations (fan or official) for the game were any indication, I would've been pissed. On the other hand, FF6's character development was better for the most part (FF5's storyline was overall better though)...

Still, the translators (both fan and official) would be scruntinized even more than they are now.